Link 4

Link 4, also stylized as Link-4 or Link Four, is a term used primarily in trading card games, particularly in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game. It refers to a Link Monster that requires four monsters as Link Material to be Link Summoned.

Link Monsters are a specific type of monster card introduced in the Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS anime and subsequent card game sets. They are placed in the Extra Monster Zone or a Main Monster Zone that a Link Monster points to. Link Monsters do not have a Level or Defense Position, and are defined by their Link Rating. The Link Rating indicates how many monsters are needed as material to summon the Link Monster and how many Link Arrows the monster possesses.

A Link 4 monster, therefore, requires four monsters on the field to be sent to the Graveyard (or otherwise used as material, as specified by the card) in order to summon it. The monsters used as Link Material must meet any specific criteria outlined in the Link 4 monster's card text (e.g., requiring specific monster types, attributes, or names).

The strength and utility of Link 4 monsters can vary significantly. They often possess powerful effects that can control the game state, disrupt opponents' strategies, or generate significant advantage for the player who summoned them. The relatively high cost of requiring four monsters as Link Material generally balances this power.

The term "Link 4" is generally understood within the Yu-Gi-Oh! community as a shorthand way to refer to any Link Monster with a Link Rating of 4.